Palo Alto Weekly

2011: Looking back

Life in Palo Alto included political and artistic expression

Change, celebration and reflection marked the year in Palo Alto through the eyes of Palo Alto Weekly photographers.

There were miraculous births, such as that of baby Samuel Martz, who was born at just 24 weeks gestation at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. And there were notable deaths: Palo Alto lost an icon when Apple cofounder and CEO Steve Jobs died on Oct. 5 of complications from pancreatic cancer, prompting an outpouring of tributes.

"Thanks for changing the world. You made a big difference," Libby Spier, 8, wrote on a sidewalk in front of the Jobs home.

Another icon, the Palo Alto Bowl, closed its doors Sept. 16, leaving the Midpeninsula without a bowling alley for the first time in decades.

The area hosted President Barack Obama a handful of times, including town-hall events sponsored by Facebook in Palo Alto and LinkedIn in Mountain View. Meanwhile, Palo Altans demonstrated their displeasure with big corporations and the government at a few Occupy Palo Alto events, one in front of Bank of America in October.

As it always does, the Baylands offered a refuge for tranquility and reflection to residents this year. In June, it was also a silent witness to a plane crash near the Palo Alto Municipal Airport; no one was injured.

Posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Dec 30, 2011 at 1:28 pm

The beautiful picture of tiny baby Samuel is a miracle which shows that all life is precious including life at 24 (and earlier) weeks gestation. How can anyone ever think of ending a preborn life and have peace afterwards?